Tight line sensing and safety means for a linotype machine



Feb. 19, 1963 p c. A. WELCH 3,077,976

TIGHT LINE SENSING AND SAFETY MEANS FOR A LINOTYPE MACHINE Filed Oct. 23, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1.

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CLYDE 4. WELCAI,

WZW W m/zm Feb. 19, 1963 c. A. WELCH 3,077,976 TIGHT LINE SENSING AND SAFETY MEANS FOR A LINOTYPE MACHINE Filed Oct. 23, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 /4 FIG. 4.

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ATTOQ/VEYS Feb. 19, 1963 c. A. WELCH 3,077,

TIGHT LINE SENSING AND SAFETY MEANS FOR A LINOTYPE MACHINE Filed Oct. 25, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 5.

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United States Patent 3,077,976 I TIGHT LINE SENSING AND SAFETY MEANS FGR A LING'IYPE MACHINE Clyde A. Welsh, 2211 Hunter Drive, Anderson, S.C.- Filed Get. 23, 1959, Ser. No. 848,335 4 Claims. (Cl. 199-52) The present invention relates generally to Linotype machines and in particular to a sensing and safety means for a tight line.

In presently used Linotype machines, the matrices employed in casting a line slug are relatively expensive. The jaws of the machine are set at a predetermined distance apart and if the assembled matrices or matrix line with the wedge-shaped word spacers thereIn is longer than the preset distance between the jaws, the assembled matrices are prevented from entering the space between the jaws. A stop mechanism is employed to stop the operation of the machine until the matrix line is adjusted. The stop mechanism often does not stop the machine and the matrix at each end of the line is pushed out of the line and the toes thereof deformed by the mold edges. When the matrix is so deformed, it is of little value and must be discarded. The deforming of several matrices in the normal course of casting type slugs may be an expense wholly out of proportion to the other expenses involved.

The pump stop mechanism of the Linotype machine as presentiy employed consists in an abutment normally positioned in the path of movement of a stop block on the pot pump actuating arm. When the assembled matrix line is confined between the jaws, one of the jaws is slightly movable so as to operate and release the stop mechanism from the normally locked or holding position to a position permitting operation of the pot pump.

An obvious solution to the problem would be to increase the space between the jaws prior to entering therebetween of the matrix line. This is not practical in presently employed Linotype machines for various reasons.

An object of the present invention is to provide a tight matrix line sensing and safety means for a Linotype machine which enables the operator thereof to repeatedly cast line Slugs without chance of deforming any of the matrices involved.

Another object of the present invention is to provide in a Linotype machine a safety means or device which permits automatic spacing of the jaws at a greater preset distance apart than formerly so that the matrices of the matrix line are not damaged when inserted therebetween, means being provided for actuating the stop mechanism if the assembled matrices or matrix line is of the right predetermined length and for holding the stop mechanism in the held position if the assembled matrices or matrix line is of a greater length.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a safety means for a Linotype machine which is easily installed thereon, one which is inexpensive to manufacture and install, and one which is highly elfective in action.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide, in a Linotype machine, a redesigned wedge and redesigned wedge blocks to permit automatic spacing of the jaws.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be fully apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric veiw of the portions of a Linotype machine involved in the present invention, with 3,077,976 Patented Feb. 19, 1963 the tight matrix line sensing and safety means of the present invention installed thereon;

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view of the portion of the Linotype machine having the jaws as Viewed with the casting wheel removed;

FIGURE 3 is a view, taken on the line 3-3 of FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a view, taken on the line 4-4 of FIG- URE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a view, taken on the line 5--5 of FIG- URE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 7 is a view, taken on the line 7-7 of FIG- URE 6; and

FIGURE 8 is an isometric exploded view of the components of the releasable safety means, shown removed from the Linotype machine.

Referring in greater detail to the drawings in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, the Linotype machine in which the sensing and safety means of the present invention is installed is designated generally by the reference numeral 16 and it includes a main frame 12 and a vise frame 14. The vise frame 14 is supported somewhat forwardly on the main frame 12 and it supports a first matrix jaw 16 on the rear face thereof for limited sliding movement in a horizontal direction. A second matrix jaw 18 is arranged in a preset spaced position with respect to the first jaw 16 and is mounted on the vise frame 14 for sliding movement toward and away from the jaw 16.

The jaw 18 is banked against and supported upon an adjustable rod 20 which is seated behind the jaw 18. A first block 22 surrounds and sustains the rod 20 and is adjustably secured to the rod 20. Another or second block 24 is adjustably secured to a tubular screw 26 which surrounds a portion of the rod 20 remote from the first-named block 22. The tubular screw 26 is supported in the vise frame 14- for rotation about a horizontal axis.

Normally, a double wedge is positioned between the blocks which correspond to the blocks 22 and 24 in the conventional Linotype machine. In the present invention, a sensing element embodying a wedge 28, of specific shape as illustrated, is positioned between and engages the blocks 22 and 24 and is movable upwardly and downwardly between the blocks 22 and 24 for shifting the jaw 18 toward and away from the preset position and also toward and away from the other jaw 16.

The Linotype machine 10 includes a pot pump stop mechanism designated generally by the reference numeral 30 and which is mounted upon the main frame 12. The mechanism 3t} includes an operating lever 32 having an abutment 34 on one end engageable by the jaw 16. When a matrix line is confined between the jaws 16 and 18, the jaw 16 moves a slight distance responsive to upwardly directed pressure applied to the wedge-shaped word spacers inserted between adjacent matrices, the matrices and the word spacers not being illustrated as not forming a part of the present invention. Upon engagement of the abutment 34 by the jaw 16, the operating lever 32 serves toshift a stop block as on a connected lever $8 (FIGURE 1) out of the path of movement of a block 40 carried on the actuating arm 42 of the pot pump mechanism 30.

The redesigned wedge 28 and blocks 22. and 24 are shown most clearly in FIGURE 5. v

If the matrix line confined between the jaws I6 and 18 is not of a sufficient length, the jaw 16 will not move and therefore the lever 32 will not be moved from the holdand safety means is operable to maintain the normal holding position of the lever 32 upon partial execution of the upward movement of the wedge 28 and is operable when the jaw 18 is in the preset position to the release 'position upon complete execution of the upward movement of the wedge 28.

Specifically, the sensing and safety means consists in an elongated bar element 46 (FIGURE 8) operatively connected to the lever 32 for movement therewith and means on the bar element 46 spaced above the blocks 22 and 24 and engageable by the wedge 28 upon complete execution of the upward movement of the wedge 28.

A portion of the bar element 46 adjacent one end is bent upwardly in an arcuately curved direction and has its free end bifurcated as at 48 in FIGURE 8, the bifurcation 48 being received over the shank of a cap screw 55 as shown most clearly in FIGURES 6 and 7. The cap screw Stl secures the adjacent end of the bar element 46 to another abutment 52 on the operating lever 32. The bar element 46 rests upon the top of the vise frame 14 and extends longitudinally therealong and by means of the cap screw 56 is connected to the operating lever 32 for movement therewith.

Means is provided on the bar element 46 spaced above and adjacent the blocks 22 and 24 and eugageable by the wedge 28 upon complete execution of upward movement of the wedge 28. This means is part of the holding means for the operating lever 32. This means includes an abutment 54 on the end of the bar element 46 remote from the bifurcation 48. The bar element 46 projects through a slot 56 provided in an upstanding plate 58 which is secured by bolts 60 to the end of the vise frame 14, as shown most clearly in FIGURE 5. A normally locked cooperating releasable latch means is provided on the end 'of the bar element .6 and on the vise frame 14 operable to release position responsive to engagement with the wedge 28. Specifically, this means includes the following:

A latch element 62, pivotally secured by a pivot pin 64 to the plate 58 and normally engaging the abutment 54 and holding the bar element 46 against longitudinal movement, as shown most clearly in FIGURES 3 and 4.

On the end of the latch element 62 remote from the pin '64 is a vertically disposed adjusting screw 66 together with a lock nut 68 for releasably securing the same. The screw 66 is threaded in a threaded bore 70 provided in the end of the latch element 62 and the free end of the screw 66 abuts against the upper end of the wedge 28 when the latter has executed its complete upward movement and driving, through the block 22, the rod 20, the jaw 18 toward the jaw 16.

A block 72, having a groove in its underface, bridges the bar element 46 and is secured by suitable means such as rivets or screws to the upper face of the vise frame 14.

A spring 74, interposed between the block 22 and a lug 76 projecting forwardly of the vise frame 14, biases the jaw 18 to the position away from the jaw 16 for entrance between the jaws 16 and 18 of a matrix line or assembly of matrices and word spacers (not shown) delivered to the jaws 16 and 18 by the conventional elevator means on the Linotype machine in accordance with accepted practice.

In operation, when a matrix line composed of a plurality of matrices interposed by the appropriate number of word spacers has been delivered to the jaws 16 and 18 tween the jaws i6 and 18.

responsive to appropriate movement of the elevator of the machine it), the jaw 18 will have been moved by the spring 74 to a position away from the preset distance which is the length of the slug to be produced by casting of the molten lead against the face of the assembled matrix line. The reshaped or redesigned wedge 28 will have been moved downwardly by the appropriate mechanism of the machine 10, permitting the jaw 13 to move away from the jaw 16 a distance sufficient for insertion between the jaws 16 and 18 of the matrix line without danger to the matrices on the ends of the line and free of any impact they might have had with the side edges of the jaws 16 and 18.

Upon upward movement of the wedge 28 to drive the jaw 18 toward the jaw 16, if the matrix line is of a length greater than is desired for the line slug to be produced, the wedge 28 will not abut against the under or free end of the screw 66 and the latch element 62 will be retained in the position holding the abutment 54 against longitudinal movement toward the jaws 16 and 18. This will result in holding against movement the operating lever 32 of the pot pump stop mechanism 30 and will prevent the casting of the slug against the face of the assembled matrix line.

After the machine it) completes its present cycle, adjustment of the matrix line is made by the operator by resorting and removal of one or more matrices and the cycle is repeated and the wedge 28 moved to its complete upward movement position, lifting the latch element 62 out of engagement with the abutment 54 and permitting longitudinal movement of the bar element 46 when the jaw 16 executes its slight movement to shift the operating lever 32 to the release position and permitting the pot pump to operate and force the molten lead into the mold of the machine 10 against the face of the assembled matrices held between the jaws 16 and 18.

It will be seen, therefore, that by permitting the movement of the jaw 13 away from the jaw 16 a greater distance than it is now possible in the Linotype machines presently in use, damage to the matrices is avoided and the line slug cast in the machine is of the same length as formerly with the same precaution taken against an oversized line slug that was formerly taken with respect to a. line slug which was undersized, this being the purpose of the connection of the jaw 16 to the operating lever 32 and the holding of the mechanism 30 out of operation unless the assembled matrix line between the jaws 16 and 18 is of the proper length.

It will be understood from the foregoing discussion that the reshaping or redesigning of the wedge 28 and of the blocks 22 and 24 according to the present invention allows the jaws 16 and 18 to accommodate a longer matrix line than ordinarily is intended to be inserted be- In the conventional double Wedge, employed in presently used Linotype machines, only the normal length matrix line is securely locked in position, before casting of the slug, by the word spacers. By reshaping the conventional wedge, as shown in FIG- URE 5, with reference to wedge 28, the wedge 28 com- .pletes its upward movement before the matrix line is locked in position by the wedge-shaped word spacers. Therefore, the wedge 28, together with the redesigned blocks 22 and 24, allows the jaws 16 and 18 to accommodate a longer than intended matrix line, as well as a line of normal length, and provides a sensing means and safety means which protects the individual matrices from damage when inserted between the jaws 16 and 18.

While only a single embodiment of the present invention is shown and described, it is to be understood that other means such as a microswitch, a solenoid, or electronic device may be employed and used with the wedge 28 and the blocks 22 and 24 as specifically shaped and employed in the present invention to hold the pot pump mechanism 30 in the inoperative position and stopping the casting action when an improperly assembled matrix line is presented to the face of the casting mold,

It is to be further Understood that, while only a single embodiment of the present invention is shown and described, numerous modifications and changes may be made, as desired, without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

It is to be further understood that the word Linotype means any line-casting machine which can be described generally as above.

What is claimed is:

1. In a Linotype machine including a main frame, a vise frame on said main frame, a movably mounted first matrix jaw on said vise frame, a second matrix jaw arranged in pre-set spaced relation with respect to said first jaw and mounted on said vise frame for sliding movement toward and away from said first jaw, a rod seated behind and supporting said second jaw and secured to said second jaw, a first block surrounding and sustaining said rod and adjustably secured to said rod, a tubular screw surrounding the portion of said rod remote from said block and supported on said vise frame, a second block adjustably secured to said screw and adjacent to and spaced from said first block, and a pot pump stop mechanism mounted on said main frame and including an operating lever having one end engageable by said first jaw, the improvement consisting in providing said first and second blocks, means operatively connected to said blocks such as to permit limited shifting of said second jaw from its pre-set position away from said first jaw and return it to its pre-set position, providing a sensing element embodying a wedge which is positioned between and engaging said blocks and is movable upwardly and downwardly between said blocks, and further providing releasable safety means acting to hold said operating lever against movement when said second jaw is moved out of the pre-set position away from said first jaw and operable to maintain the normal holding position of said lever upon partial execution of the upward movement of said sensing element and operable when said second jaw is in the pre-set position to released position upon complete execution of the upward movement of said wedge.

2. In a Linotype machine including a main frame, a vise frame on said main frame, a movably mounted first matrix jaw on said vise frame, a second matrix jaw arranged in pre-set spaced relation with respect to said first jaw and mounted on said vise frame for sliding movement toward and away from said first jaw, a rod seated behind and supporting said second jaw and secured to said second jaw, a first block surrounding and sustaining said rod and adjustably secured to said rod, a tubular screw surrounding the portion of said rod remote from said block and supported on said vise frame, a second block adjustably secured to said screw and adjacent to and spaced from said first block, and a pot pump stop mechanism mounted on said main frame and including an operating lever having one end engageable by said first jaw, the improvement consisting in providing said first and second blocks, means operatively connected to said blocks such as to permit limited shifting of said second jaw from its pre-set position away from said first jaw and return it to its pre-set position, providing a sensing element embodying a wedge which is positioned between and engaging said blocks and is movable upwardly and downwardly between said blocks, and further providing a releasable safety means acting to hold said operating lever against movement when said second jaw is moved out of the pre-set position away from said first jaw and operable to maintain the normal holding position of said lever upon partial execution of the upward movement of said sensing element and operable when said second jaw is in the preset position to released position upon complete execution of the upward movement of said wedge, said means including a bar element operatively connected to said lever for movement therewith, and means on said bareleinent spaced above said blocks and engageable by said wedg'e'upon execution of the upward movement of the latter;

3. In a Linotype machine including a main frame, a vise frame on said main frame, a movably mounted first matrix jaw on said vise frame, a second matrix jaw arranged in pre-set spaced relation with respect to said first jaw and mounted on said vise frame for sliding movement toward and away from said first jaw, a rod seated behind and supporting said second jaw and secured to said second jaw, a first block surrounding and sustaining said rod and adjustably secured to said rod, a tubular screw surrounding the portion of said rod remote from said block and supported on said vise frame, a second block adjustably secured to said screw and adjacent to and spaced from said first block, and a pot pump stop mechanism mounted on said main frame and including an operating lever having one end engageable by said first jaw, the improvement consisting in providing said first and second blocks, means operatively connected to said blocks such as to permit limited shifting of said second jaw from its pre-set position away from said first jaw and return it to its pre-set position, providing a sensing element embodying a Wedge which is positioned between and engaging said blocks and is movable upwardly and downwardly between said blocks, and further providing a releasable safety means acting to hold said operating lever against movement when said second jaw is moved out of the pre-set position away from said first jaw and operable to maintain the normal holding position of said lever upon partial execution of the upward movement of said sensing element and operable when said second jaw is in the pre-set position to released position upon complete execution of the upward movement of said wedge, said means including a bar element having one end connected to said operating lever for movement therewith and having the other end adjacent said wedge, and normally locked cooperating releasable latch means on said other end of said bar element and on said vise frame operable to release position responsive to engagement with said wedge.

4. In a Linotype machine including a main frame, a vise frame on said main frame, a movably mounted first matrix jaw on said vise frame, a second matrix jaw arranged in pre-set spaced relation with respect to said first jaw and mounted on said vise frame for sliding movement toward and away from said first jaw, a rod seated behind and supporting said second jaw and secured to said second jaw, a first block surrounding and sustaining said rod and adjustably secured to said rod, a tubular screw surrounding the portion of said rod remote from said block and supported on said vise frame, a second block adjustably secured to said screw and adjacent to and spaced from said first block, and a pot pump stop mechanism mounted on said main frame and including an operating lever having one end engageable by said first jaw, the improvement consisting in providing said first and second blocks, means operatively connected to said blocks such as to permit limited shifting of said second jaw from its pre-set position away from said first jaw and return it to its pre-set position, providing a sensing element embodying a wedge which is positioned between and engaging said blocks and is movable upwardly and downwardly between said blocks, and further providing a releasable safety means acting to hold said operating lever against movement when said second jaw is moved out of the pre-set position and away from said first jaw and operable to maintain the normal holding position of said lever upon partial execution of the upward movement of said sensing element and operable when said second jaw is in the preset position to released position upon complete execution of the upward movement of said wedge, said means including a bar element having one end connected to said operating lever for movement 7 a 8 r therewith and having the other end adjacent said wedge, References Cited in the file of this patent an abutment on said other end of said bar element, and UNITED STATES PATENTS a latch element normally engaging said abutment holding said bar against movement, said latch element being i 989,943 Bedell Apr. 18, 1911 shiftable to release position responsive to engagement 5 1, 58 sund rland Ja 16, 1923 with said wedge.

2,029,976 l/Vunsch Feb. 4, 1936 

1. IN A LINOTYPE MACHINE INCLUDING A MAIN FRAME, A VISE FRAME ON SAID MAIN FRAME, A MOVABLY MOUNTED FIRST MATRIX JAW ON SAID VISE FRAME, A SECOND MATRIX JAW ARRANGED IN PRE-SET SPACED RELATION WITH RESPECT TO SAID FIRST JAW AND MOUNTED ON SAID VISE FRAME FOR SLIDING MOVEMENT TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID FIRST JAW, A ROD SEATED BEHIND AND SUPPORTING SAID SECOND JAW AND SECURED TO SAID SECOND JAW, A FIRST BLOCK SURROUNDING AND SUSTAINING SAID ROD AND ADJUSTABLY SECURED TO SAID ROD, A TUBULAR SCREW SURROUNDING THE PORTION OF SAID ROD REMOTE FROM SAID BLOCK AND SUPPORTED ON SAID VISE FRAME, A SECOND BLOCK ADJUSTABLY SECURED TO SAID SCREW AND ADJACENT TO AND SPACED FROM SAID FIRST BLOCK, AND A POT PUMP STOP MECHANISM MOUNTED ON SAID MAIN FRAME AND INCLUDING AN OPERATING LEVER HAVING ONE END ENGAGEABLE BY SAID FIRST JAW, THE IMPROVEMENT CONSISTING IN PROVIDING SAID FIRST AND SECOND BLOCKS, MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID BLOCKS SUCH AS TO PERMIT LIMITED SHIFTING OF SAID SECOND JAW FROM ITS PRE-SET POSITION AWAY FROM SAID FIRST JAW AND RETURN IT TO ITS PRE-SET POSITION, PROVIDING A SENSING ELEMENT EMBODYING A WEDGE WHICH IS POSITIONED BETWEEN AND ENGAGING SAID BLOCKS AND IS MOVABLE UPWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY BETWEEN SAID BLOCKS, AND FURTHER PROVIDING RELEASABLE SAFETY MEANS ACTING TO HOLD SAID OPERATING LEVER AGAINST MOVEMENT WHEN SAID SECOND JAW IS MOVED OUT OF THE PRE-SET POSITION AWAY FROM SAID FIRST JAW AND OPERABLE TO MAINTAIN THE NORMAL HOLDING POSITION OF SAID LEVER UPON PARTIAL EXECUTION OF THE UPWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID SENSING ELEMENT AND OPERABLE WHEN SAID SECOND JAW IS IN THE PRE-SET POSITION TO RELEASED POSITION UPON COMPLETE EXECUTION OF THE UPWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID WEDGE. 